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Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:14 pm

Let's have a discussion about what is correct for the different years and models of Barndoors. I will update this first post as information is provided.

The very early Barndoor used round-arms, similar to early Beetles.
Exact details and cutoff dates unknown at this time.
Anyone have more details? 1950-51 only?
Photo of round style:

According to Progressive Refinements and the 1951 and 1955 parts books:
Up through Sept, 1952, VIN # 20-032790, Buses had painted arms and blades.
From September, 1952 through December, 1953, VIN # 20-069409, Standards and Deluxes used polished bases, chrome arms, and chrome wiper blades.
54-55 Standards and Deluxe Buses had silver-colored bases, arms, and blades.
Progressive Refinements:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=582007
1951 Parts book
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=582036
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=582037
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=582038

Commercial Buses used black base/arms/blades.

Deluxes used the typical "thin" silver bases/arms/blades typically seen on post-Barndoor Buses. (Confirmation needed).
Thin:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=101716
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=101034

Pre-1954 Chrome wiper blades:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=582050
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=582051
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=582052
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=582053

Wiper shafts:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=101706
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=22736

Wiper bases:
Buses use a wiper base with a circular hole.
Example (on left here):

I have seen both VW-logo'd and SWF logo'd bases.
For reference, a low mileage '54 Deluxe thought to be 100% original has wiper bases with SWF logos. In addition a '52 Bus believe to have the original wiper bases also had these wiper bases.
Example:

Other logos

The VW on the left is sunken down vs. the 2nd VW emblem, which is level with the body of the wiper base.

Colors:
Black bases and arms are the typical VW semi-gloss black.
Silver arms are the normal VW silver used on later Buses and other silver-painted parts. I have been told Wurth Silver is very good match.

Other:
The bolt used to fasten the base to the wiper shaft is 4mm.
These often strip and some have been enlarged to 5mm or larger.

Corrections/additions welcome.

Thu Aug 06, 2009 6:27 am

These are the wiper arms on my 52 kombi:

Thu Aug 06, 2009 9:44 am

When did they stop using the chrome wiper blades? Everett the NOS ones that you have are they for the thin wiper arms? I have a set with a differnt part# and are for the thin slot.

Dave

Thu Aug 06, 2009 10:08 am

splitvws wrote: When did they stop using the chrome wiper blades?
Through 12/53 according to the info in the first post here.

splitvws wrote: Everett the NOS ones that you have are they for the thin wiper arms? I have a set with a differnt part# and are for the thin slot.

Yes, they are thin slot. There is probably more than 1 style? Post them...

I basically know zero so hopefully this thread can provide some details.

Thu Aug 06, 2009 10:20 am

Quote: According to Progressive Refinements and the 1951 and 1955 parts books, up through 12/1953, VIN # 20-069409, Standards and Deluxes used polished bases, chrome arms, and chrome wiper blades.

my dusty 53 standard, with a painted (incorrect for the bus) base:

The polished bases were stuck to the (chromed) arms that came with the bus. Eventually I'll dig them out and take pics.
I picked up a pair of NOS arms/wipers soon after I got the bus.

This bus had 66 tags on it when I got it, and is mostly unmolested.

Thu Aug 06, 2009 10:27 am

Some examples from the Gallery
'52 with polished (I think) bases black arms/blades:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=92207

Unrestored '52 with black bases and chrome arms/blades:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=14730
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=14729

'52 with polished/chrome assemblies:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=24902

'53 with chrome assemblies:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=435536
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=435535

Press photos
'53 with shiny assemblies (polished/chrome)

I haven't been able to find any 54/55 photos where I can tell if the arms are chrome or just the regular silver paint.

Thu Aug 06, 2009 1:28 pm

EverettB wrote:

The very early Barndoor used round-arms, similar to early Beetles. Years? 50-51? Photos?

This is a question, I have tried to find some information's about, but without any luck. We all know that early beetles had round arms, but I have newer seen any documentation for round arms on a barndoor.
As I know there are no special part number for round arm in the early spare part catalogues, and it is very hard to se on old pictures if the arm are the round type or the small flat type.
Any information would be most welcome.

I don't have any of the round type, but I have NOS silver and black with the small arm, so if any one can verify that I shall have the round type, I am very interested in buying a pair :D

-Tonny

Thu Aug 06, 2009 2:59 pm

Ev, I wouldn't use the press "photo" as a reference. It looks like it has been doctored up with some art work.

I have scanned photos from a 1950 press kit that I will look through tonight to see if it will answer the question about the round bases.

Ev, use your bionic vision and see if you can tell if these are chrome or not?

Thu Aug 06, 2009 3:58 pm

Anchovy wrote: Ev, I wouldn't use the press "photo" as a reference. It looks like it has been doctored up with some art work.
Good point. That photo is worse than others in terms of visible altering as well.

Anchovy wrote:
Ev, use your bionic vision and see if you can tell if these are chrome or not?
http://www.1954samba.com/images/Copy_of_imageC3V.JPG
They could be chrome but that is one of the issues with the 54/55 photos I have found is that it's really hard to tell if they are silver paint or chrome.

Do you have a larger scan?

As another data point, Brendan's low mileage '54 Standard has painted bases and arms. I'm not sure he has posted a photo though.

Fri Aug 07, 2009 6:49 am

I believe the wipers arms in a 1950/51 barndoor are round.
Take a closer look on the drawings in a 3/51 and a 7/53 partsbook...
You can see as well the little screw on top of the base on the later version, but not on a 1950/51...

I make some photos of the drawings and the real wiper arms (on my 1950 bus
i used round arms, i found a NOS pair with the help from my friend jan-peter...;-)

Axel Struwe

here is a link to the photos, if somebody can´t see them....
http://picasaweb.google.com/axelstruwe/Barndoor_Wipers

and here a photo of the wipers on my 1950 bus

Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:21 am

My jan 1951 bus has the round arms. I believe that they came that way from the original owner, but would have to confirm with Peter Valentine to be 100% sure.

Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:59 am

Is the black found on the commercial bus wipers a flat, semi, or gloss black?

Thanks

Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:48 pm

Can anyone advise me what is the length of the wiper blade for the early 50-51 "beetle-like" chrome wipers is? Thanks!!

Sat Sep 25, 2010 11:52 am

the top BD wiper has a small brass/metal cap, does anyone supply these or know of a source?

Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:59 am

So should this '55 "Very original Barndoor Standard" have silver wiper arms/bases, or is it evidence to suggest otherwise?

Wed Jun 01, 2011 5:40 am

I suspect there is no difinitive answer and that they used what ever they could get their hands on. I can understand silver/ polished alloy on deluxes but I suspect other BD models got black

Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:07 am

It seems like 54-55 Standards used Black. 53-down are chrome/polished like Deluxes. For reference, the '55 parts book says both Standards and Deluxes had the aluminum-colored ones though.

Canadian photo

Also the Sunroof Standard in Germany

Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:48 am

From a '52 brochure (Black parts)

Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:25 pm

Does anyone supply repro arms for a 54, as mine are almost rusted out and would like to replace them?

Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:12 pm

I'm not sure anyone makes the thin arms?

They do show up in the classifieds from time to time though.
I'm sure there are a couple ads right now (hint).